Start Pedalling

By Priyanka Bhattacharya

Eight reasons why cycling is good for you

Cycling exercises the heart better than walking and offers health benefits faster than most popular form of workouts. So start pedalling.

The British Medical Association estimates that cycling offers tremendous health benefits that outweigh the risks by 20 to 1. It is one of the most fun and enjoyable ways to lose calories fast. Cycling also means that you are not stuck at one place while exercising but can run important errands as your body gets its dose of aerobic workout.

To promote the idea that cycling is fun, and an experience the RideACycle Foundation started its premier cycling tour event called Tour of Nilgiris. This annual event, which will be held this year from 16th to 24th December, trails across the beautiful Nilgiri mountains in South India. The Tour of Nilgiris conceived by two passionate cycling enthusiasts Ravi Ranjan Kumar, an engineer and Rajesh Nair, a photographer welcomes cyclists in the age group of 18 to 60.

According to the duo, the thought behind TFN is to promote cycling amongst the masses and encourages individuals to take it up as an alternate mode of transport. Here they share some health benefits of cycling on a daily basis.

Reason # 1: Physical activity serves as a regulator to relieve the stress that is common in current lifestyles. It produces the balance between exertion and relaxation which is so important for the body's inner equilibrium. Cycling is especially ideal for this process, countering stress in two ways: by satisfying the need for activity where people lack movement or exercise; and by balancing out increased strain, particularly mental and emotional.

Reason # 2: A few miles of cycling per day assure trimmer and toned muscles. This is because your upper thigh muscles, backside and calf muscles all get exercised by the pedalling motion.

Reason # 3: Pursuing cycling helps a great deal in building your stamina. It enables you to carry out your day-to-day activities more effectively.

Reason # 4: This might come to you as a surprise, but cycling ensures a control in the level of blood pressure.

Reason # 5: Cycling enhances the overall fitness level of a person. It makes you breathe deeper and perspire more, thereby leading to a feeling of enhanced body temperature.

Reason # 6: Cycling minimises the risk of coronary heart disease. Essentially an aerobic exercise, it gives your heart, blood vessels and lungs a workout, thereby reducing the risk of heart problems.

Reason # 7: A week of inactivity reduces the strength of the muscular system by up to 50% and can harm them long-term. This is particularly true for older people as ageing causes muscles to shrink. So start with slow cycling to build up stamina.

Reason # 8: During cycling, most of the body's muscles are activated. The leg muscles are responsible for the pedalling movement; the abdomen and back muscles stabilise the body on the cycle and cushion external influences; and the shoulder-arm muscular system supports the body at the handlebars. All this trains and tightens up the muscular system, making it stronger and able to function efficiently.

So why wait, pick up your bicycle and pedal your way to a great healthful future.

Image credits: PeeVee